Pakistan | 2012 | 75 minutes | Bassam Tariq, Omar Mullick

The Edhi foundation, founded by humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi, gets the documentary treatment in this ethereal and inspirational story of resilience about a runaway child and an ambulance driver in Karachi, Pakistan. The film recently won the Filmmaker-to-Filmmaker Award at the Hot Docs Festival, and directors Omar Mullick and Bassam Tariq were featured in Filmmaker Magazine's "The 25 New Faces of Independent Film."

USA | 2013 | 83 minutes | Chad Hartigan

Seattle actor Paul Eenhoorn delivers a stunning performance in this deceptively simple and surprisingly optimistic story of a lonely man who gets a job helping ex-cons transition to civilian life. Winner of the Audience Award for Best of NEXT at Sundance.

2012 | 88 minutes

Germany | 2012 | 76 minutes | Helena Ahonen, Max Andersson

This surreal, partially animated documentary follows two Swedish comic book artists on a road trip through the former Yugoslavia with the mummified remains of Marshal Tito. Their goal: promote their book Bosnian Flat Dog, published by Seattle's own Fantagraphics Books.

Taiwan | 2012 | 114 minutes | Hsu Chao-Jen

USA | 2013 | 88 minutes | Lynn Shelton

A massage therapist is stricken with a sudden aversion to bodily contact while her emotionally distant brother finds he can give his dental patients a healing touch, in this amusing exploration surrounding the foibles of human nature.

USA | 2013 | 74 minutes | Jamila Wignot, Sierra Pettengill

Impartial but politically volatile, Town Hall follows two years in the lives of Central Pennsylvania citizens Katy and John, two Tea Party activists determined to restore the United States to its former glory.

USA | 2013 | 92 minutes | Bill Siegel

Brash boxer Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali) burst into the American consciousness in the early 1960s, just ahead of the Civil Rights movement. This film reveals the perfect storm of race, religion, and politics that shaped one of the most recognizable figures in sports history.

USA | 2013 | 90 minutes | Morgan Neville

Best Documentary: SIFF 2013 Golden Space Needle Awards

A breakout audience favorite at Sundance,Twenty Feet from Stardomfollows several gifted backup singers living in the shadows of superstardom. Their work charted the rise of the modern pop vocal sound from the gospel tradition to the more impassioned sounds of the turbulent '60s. Special guests Tata Vega and Merry Clayton will each perform a song following the movie (Centerpiece Gala screening only)!

SIFF's mission is to create experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world. It is through the art of cinema that we foster a community that is more informed, aware, and alive!